The Mets may need to acquire a new crop of players, because I anticipate them cutting ties with several familiar names from the last few seasons.

And so, having talked with people in touch with the team’s thinking, my sense is that they do not intend to sink all of their available off-season money in to just one top-flight free agent.

Instead, I anticipate trades, as well as one or two mid-level free agent signings to help round out the roster.

Also, I sense the organization sees Daniel Murphy more as a potential solution at first base, not at second base, despite his time in the AFL.

…if the Mets could trade for a big-time bat in left, i wouldn’t mind seeing murphy at first, with a defensive, back-up behind him…

The Mets will pick up Carlos Delgado’s option, as Omar Minaya announced in his conference call last week, but that by no means indicates he will be their starting first baseman next season. Instead, it sounds like Delgado’s future with the Mets will depend on what other options exist in the market place.

…in other words, like the Yankees did withGary Sheffielda few years ago, it would not surprise me to see the Mets pick up delgado’s option, and then trade him to an AL team, though this may not be minaya’s first choice…

It sounds like there is only a small chance that Oliver Perez or PedroMartinez will be re-signed.

Lastly, speaking of trades, I also sense that this team’s future closer will come in the form of a trade, not the free-agent market, which will mean parting with even more prospects.

…i have no idea who that guy will be, though names like J.J. Putz,Joakim Soria andHuston Streetwill likely be mentioned over and over again in the rumor mill…